The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights – country visits, reports,
recommendations, issue papers and viewpoints

The Office of the Commissioner
for Human Rights was created in 1992, as an independent and impartial
institution within the Council of Europe. The Commissioner for Human
Rights is responsible for
promoting education in, awareness of and respect for human rights as embodied in
the human rights instruments of the Council of Europe. The way in which the
Office of the Commissioner exercises part of its mandate can be assimilated to a
form of monitoring. The Commissioner focuses on encouraging reform measures that
will mark tangible improvements in human rights protection and promotion. The
Commissioner is not a judicial body and cannot act upon individual complaints
but the Office draws conclusions and takes wider initiatives on the basis of
reliable information regarding human rights violations suffered by individuals.
During the course of his work, the current Commissioner, Nils Muižnieks has
paid particular attention to the plight of children. In his country reports, he
has expressed concern over such issues as:

The European
Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) – country-by-country reports
and thematic guidelines
ECRI's task is to combat racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and intolerance in
the member sates from the perspective of the protection of human rights. ECRI's
action covers all necessary measures to combat violence, discrimination and
prejudice faced by persons or groups of persons, notably on grounds of
"race", colour, language, religion, nationality and national or ethnic
origin.
The members of this independent monitoring body have in-depth knowledge in the
field, and neither receive instructions from nor report to any government.
Besides country-by-country reports, its monitoring activities include drawing
up general policy recommendations and maintaining relations with civil society,
whose input can be used in its reports. ECRI follows up on its country reports
to determine if its recommendations have been put into practice.
ECRI also issues theme files which contain detailed guidelines for policy makers
to use when designing national strategies.
Learn more
ECRI country-by country monitoring
Thematic filesGo to:
Role of Council of Europe bodies in monitoringTreaty-based monitoring
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